What Is Lyocell? Properties and Care

Lyocell is a cellulose fiber made from wood, usually eucalyptus or beech. We use TENCEL™ Lyocell from Lenzing in Austria. The fiber is produced using a closed-loop process in which over 99 percent of the solvent is recovered. In this guide, you will get an honest assessment: what exactly Lyocell is, how it is manufactured, how it compares to Modal and cotton, how you should care for it, and where we use it at erlich textil, for women and men.

What is Lyocell?

Lyocell is a regenerated fiber made from 100 percent natural cellulose, derived from wood. The fiber belongs to the same family as viscose and modal: all three use cellulose as their raw material. What distinguishes Lyocell is the manufacturing process. The raw material remains wood, but the chemical processing differs from that of viscose or modal. Technically, Lyocell is therefore, like modal, semi-synthetic: a natural raw material that is industrially spun into a fiber.

The raw material for Lyocell is primarily eucalyptus or beech from certified forestry. Eucalyptus grows quickly and requires little water; beech is often sourced from European forests. Both are purchased by Lenzing according to FSC and PEFC standards, meaning they come from certified forestry.

TENCEL™ Lyocell vs. generic Lyocell

Lyocell is a generic fiber name; TENCEL™ is the brand. At erlich textil, we exclusively use TENCEL™ Lyocell from Lenzing. The difference compared to generic Lyocell from other manufacturers lies in two points: first, the wood sources—Lenzing relies on FSC and PEFC certification; second, the process—Lenzing works with the original closed-loop technology and regularly publishes data on it.

If a care label only says "Lyocell," you have no information about the origin of the wood or the manufacturer's standards. If "TENCEL™ Lyocell" or "Lenzing Lyocell" is listed, you know the source.

How is Lyocell made? The closed-loop process

Lyocell is the youngest of the three major cellulose fibers (viscose, modal, Lyocell). Here are the simplified steps:

Wood harvesting. Eucalyptus or beech wood from FSC- and PEFC-certified forests is debarked and processed into chips.
Pulp extraction. Pure cellulose is extracted from the wood chips.
Direct dissolution with NMMO. The cellulose is dissolved in an organic solvent called N-Methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO). NMMO is not acutely toxic.
Spinning. The viscous cellulose solution is pressed through fine nozzles into a precipitation bath, during which the fiber solidifies.
Solvent recovery. Over 99 percent of the NMMO is recovered from the precipitation bath and returned to the spinning process. This is the closed-loop principle.
Processing. The fibers are spun into yarn, dyed, and processed into fabric.

Compared to conventional viscose, the problematic sulfur chemicals are eliminated in the Lyocell process, and the solvent cycle is largely closed. Compared to modal, Lyocell uses a different process with a higher recovery rate.

What distinguishes Lyocell from other cellulose fibers

Two concrete differences:

Closed-loop. Over 99 percent NMMO recovery, according to Lenzing data. The solvent is therefore largely reused.
Different solvent. NMMO is not acutely toxic, unlike the sulfur compounds in the viscose process.

Important: These advantages apply to fiber production. What happens afterward—dyeing, manufacturing, transport, wearing, washing—is similar for Lyocell clothing as it is for other fabrics. A credible overall CO2 footprint therefore depends not only on the fiber but on the entire supply chain.

What are the properties of Lyocell?

Lyocell has a clear profile. Here is what you feel on your skin and what the fiber is technically capable of:

Silky smooth feel due to the smooth fiber surface
Smooth fiber surface, resulting in less friction than with rough natural fibers
Easy-care, wrinkles little, easy to iron
Robust

How do you recognize Lyocell on the label?

On the care label, Lyocell is listed either as Lyocell or under the brand name TENCEL™ Lyocell. Both refer to the same fiber type; TENCEL is Lenzing's brand. In underwear, you will almost always find Lyocell in combination with a small amount of elastane because the fabric needs stretch. Do not confuse: viscose and modal are also cellulose fibers made from wood, but they are created using different processes. If only "viscose" is on the label, it is not Lyocell. The exact composition of your model is listed on every product page on our site.

If you are looking for a model now: take a look at our Lyocell briefs for women or our Lyocell nightwear. For men, there is a separate collection at Lyocell for men.

In short: Choose Lyocell if you want active days, lots of movement, or particularly dimensionally stable basics. Choose Modal if a silky feel in everyday life is more important to you (we use this specifically only in our women's range). Choose cotton if you like a classic feel or are looking for particularly robust basics. We have broken down the full comparison in a table in Lyocell vs. Cotton, and the modal specifics are in What is Modal?.

How do I care for Lyocell correctly?

Lyocell is easy to care for and very robust, but a few rules significantly extend its lifespan.

Washing. Lyocell can handle 30 to 60 degrees, but we recommend a maximum of 40 degrees on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. Use a low spin speed; 600 revolutions per minute is sufficient. Put bralettes, bras, and lace models in a laundry bag to protect them from friction with the hooks and fasteners of other garments.

Drying. Lyocell can go in the dryer unless the care label says otherwise. We still recommend the clothesline: it is gentler on the fiber and better for your energy consumption. The advantage of Lyocell: the fiber remains dimensionally stable even when wet, so you don't necessarily have to dry large items flat like you would with Modal.

Ironing. Lyocell wrinkles very little. If you iron, use a low to medium setting, preferably with steam.

What you should avoid. Bleach, very hot dryer cycles, harsh spin programs, and aggressive heavy-duty detergents. Avoiding these will help your Lyocell piece maintain its shape and silky feel for much longer.

What are the disadvantages of Lyocell?

Lyocell has a strong profile, but no material is perfect. Four points you should be aware of before you decide.

The price. Lyocell is more expensive to produce than conventional cotton. The closed-loop process, solvent recovery, and wood source certification all cost money, which is reflected in the final price.

Sensitive to heat and friction. Very hot dryer cycles and harsh spin programs take a toll on the fiber. With consistently improper care, fine fibers can loosen on the surface, making the fabric look duller and less smooth. Technically, this is called fibrillation. With a 40-degree gentle cycle and air drying, this practically never happens.

It does not provide warmth. Lyocell has a silky-cool feel. If you are looking for something that provides warmth in winter, a denser cotton or flannel fabric is a more suitable choice.

It remains an industrial process. Lyocell is a regenerated cellulose fiber, not a natural fiber that comes directly from a plant. The raw material is wood, but there is chemical processing between the tree and the yarn. The process is closed and recovers the solvent, but it is not energy-free.

None of these are reasons to avoid it. However, it helps to know what the fiber is designed for and what it is not.

How sustainable is Lyocell? A factual assessment

Here is our assessment, without the greenwashing.

What we can state as facts:

Eucalyptus and beech wood from FSC®- and PEFC™-certified forestry, according to Lenzing.
Closed-loop process with over 99 percent NMMO recovery, according to Lenzing data.
NMMO is a non-acutely toxic solvent, unlike the sulfur compounds in the viscose process.
Lower water consumption in fiber production than with cotton, according to Lenzing.

What we do not claim:

Lyocell is not climate-neutral. A general CO2 footprint cannot be reliably calculated at the fiber level.
Lyocell is not GOTS-certified. GOTS applies to natural fibers like cotton, not to regenerated cellulose fibers.
We refrain from using claims like "PFAS-free" or "microplastic-free" without a clear study base.

Our position: The fiber alone is not a free pass. What counts is the entire supply chain, not just the fiber. Our production facilities are registered via Retraced and are evaluated before being approved.

Lyocell at erlich textil, for women and men

Unlike Modal, we use Lyocell in both product ranges because the fiber is impressive in both the women's and men's segments.

Women. You can find Lyocell in our bodysuits, briefs, thongs, and nightwear. The exact fiber composition is always on the product page.

Men. For men, we focus on Lyocell for a silky-smooth feel, as we do not carry Modal for men. You can find Lyocell in boxer short models. The Light Touch collection is our main line made from TENCEL™ Lyocell for men.

Sizes. Women's XS to XXL for bottoms and bodysuits, bras in crossover sizes 70 to 95 with cups A to E. Men's XS to XXL for boxers and tops.

Production. TENCEL™ Lyocell comes from Lenzing in Austria. Depending on the model, it is processed and sewn in Portugal or Turkey.

If you are looking for a model now: take a look at Lyocell underwear for women, Lyocell tops, or the Lyocell collection for men.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lyocell and what is it made of?

Lyocell is a cellulose fiber made from wood, primarily eucalyptus or beech. We use exclusively TENCEL™ Lyocell from Lenzing in Austria. The fiber is created in a closed-loop process in which over 99 percent of the solvent NMMO is recovered. Lyocell is silky.

What is the difference between Lyocell and Modal?

Both are cellulose fibers from Lenzing, but the process is different. Lyocell is made in a closed-loop process with NMMO, with over 99 percent solvent recovery. Modal uses Eco-Clean technology with oxygen-based bleaching chemistry. In terms of feel, Modal is somewhat silkier, while Lyocell is somewhat more stable. At erlich textil, we use Lyocell for both women and men, whereas we use Modal only for women.

At what temperature should you wash Lyocell?

Lyocell can handle 30 to 60 degrees. We recommend a maximum of 40 degrees on a gentle cycle with mild detergent, low spin speed (max. 600 rpm), a laundry bag for lace and bralettes, and no bleach. This helps maintain the silky feel for a long time.

Is Lyocell really sustainable?

That depends on your criteria. Factual: TENCEL™ Lyocell is derived from FSC- and PEFC-certified wood, and the closed-loop process recovers over 99 percent of the solvent according to Lenzing. What Lyocell is not: climate-neutral or GOTS-certified. We do not make such blanket claims.

Which Lyocell products does erlich textil carry?

For women: bodysuits, briefs, thongs, tops, loungewear, and nightwear; an overview can be found in our Lyocell underwear for women section. For men: boxers, T-shirts, and nightwear in the Lyocell collection for men. The exact fiber composition is listed on every product page.

Does Lyocell have disadvantages?

Yes, three relevant ones. Lyocell is more expensive than conventional cotton, it is sensitive to very hot dryer cycles and harsh spinning, and it does not warm you up but rather feels pleasantly cool.

Is Lyocell suitable for bed linen?

In principle, yes; the fiber wrinkles little, and feels pleasantly cool on the skin. However, we currently carry our own bed linen in cotton and cotton-linen, not Lyocell. If you are interested in bed linen materials, you can find an overview in our bed linen guide.